Effects Of Exogenous Corticosteroids Research Articles

The effects of exogenous corticosteroids on dog behavior: A preliminary study

The effects of exogenous corticosteroids on dog behavior: A preliminary study

Effect of exogenous corticosteroids on the developing central nervous system: a review.

Corticosteroid therapy is used in a variety of developmental clinical settings. Prenatally, maternal administration of corticosteroids is used primarily in the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome. Postnatally, corticosteroids are used to treat a variety of infant diseases such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia and hypoglycemia. Treatment regimes often involve repeated administration, on a weekly basis prenatally and daily postnatally, despite an absence of safety data from randomized clinical trials. A large number of animal studies, the majority of which used rodents, have shown that both repeated prenatal or neonatal administration of exogenous corticosteroids has a wide range of detrimental effects on the structure and function of the developing central nervous system (CNS). None of these studies included long-term follow-up. Despite the reported detrimental effects on CNS development, a number of animal studies have shown that pretreatment with corticosteroids nevertheless protect the brain from hypoxia-ischemic injury; however, clinically such treatment is no longer favored. Studies using large animal models and with long-term follow-up should be undertaken to establish the relative risks and benefits of the repeated application of exogenous corticosteroids.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of inhaled corticosteroids in relation to efficacy and safety

There are significant differences in the pharmacokinetic properties of inhaled corticosteroids currently available for use in treatment of asthma and this can result in differences in pharmacodynamic activity. All currently used inhaled corticosteroids are rapidly cleared from the body, but show varying levels of oral bioavailability, with fluticasone propionate having the lowest. Following inhalation, there is also considerable variability in the rate of absorption from the lung, and pulmonary residence times are greatest for fluticasone propionate and triamcinolone acetonide, and shortest for budesonide and flunisolide. Cortisol suppression is frequently used as a surrogate market of systemic corticosteroid activity. Cortisol release displays a circadian rhythm, which can be mathematically modelled and the effects of exogenous corticosteroids on cortisol suppression established. However, when interpreting the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on cumulative cortisol suppression, it is important to take into consideration the pharmacokinetic properties of each particular drug, together with the study design and the time of administration.

A Case-Control Study of Corticosteroid Exposure as a Risk Factor for Clinically-Diagnosed Depressive Disorders in a Hospitalized Population

Depressive symptoms may be a side effect of exogenous corticosteroids. However, the literature does not confirm that corticosteroid exposure is associated with the occurrence of depressive disorders. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not corticosteroid exposures are associated with clinical diagnoses of depressive disorders in hospitalized patients. The study used a case-control design. Cases and 2 control groups were selected from a health records case summary database maintained at the Calgary General Hospital. Additional data were collected by chart review. The analysis reproduced associations between depressive diagnoses and several psychosocial and biological risk factors. However, the data did not suggest that corticosteroids were associated with an elevated risk of depressive diagnoses. In fact, odds ratios for corticosteroid exposure were less than 1, consistent with a protective effect. Although corticosteroids may produce depressive symptoms as a side effect, corticosteroid exposures are not associated with an elevated risk of clinically diagnosed depressive disorders in hospitalized patients. There are several possible explanations for this. Depressive syndromes associated with corticosteroid exposure may not clinically resemble depressive disorders, and may not warrant a diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Alternatively, clinicians may not identify and formally diagnose depressive disorders caused by corticosteroids.

Quantitative Electroencephalographic Correlates of Steroid Administration in Man

Elevated levels of circulating corticosteroids are frequently associated with behavioral alterations in man, although the mechanisms by which corticosteroids may affect behavior are poorly understood. To evaluate possible effects of exogenous corticosteroids on brain electrophysiological functioning and the relationship of such effects to behavioral and biochemical changes, we administered prednisone (80 mg p.o. daily for 5 days) in a double-blind manner to 11 medically healthy volunteers. Quantitative electroencephalogram analysis was performed following 4 days of prednisone administration and during the preceding and ensuing placebo administration periods. Central theta wave brain electrical activity significantly increased following prednisone administration and returned to baseline following prednisone withdrawal. This effect was directly correlated with prednisone-induced increases in subjective sadness ratings and with decreases in self-rated energy and well-being. Prednisone-induced reductions in peak alpha wave activity were also directly correlated with increases in subjective sadness and Symptom Checklist-90 ratings and with decreases in self-rated 'hypomanic' symptoms. Further, prednisone-induced increases in theta activity were significantly correlated with prednisone-induced decreases in CSF levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity, and prednisone-induced decreases in peak alpha activity were significantly correlated with decreases in CSF levels of norepinephrine and with relative increases (or lesser decreases) in CSF levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropic hormone. This preliminary report of the concomitant development of prednisone-induced changes in brain electrical activity, neurochemistry and behavior highlights areas for future exploration in the study of corticosteroid effects on behavior in man.

Effect of exogenous corticosteroids on circulating virus and neutralizing antibodies in striped bass ( Morone saxatilis) infected with infectious pancreatic necrosis virus

Corticosteroids have been reported to induce immunosuppression in fish exposed to many types of bacterial antigens. We document a similar phenomenon in fish exposed to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Fingerling striped bass that were injected with the steroid triamcinolone acetonide (100 mg/kg body weight) 24 hours before receiving intraperitoneal inoculation with IPNV became viremic 3 days post inoculation (dpi) and virus was still detected in the buffy coat cells 14 dpi. In contrast, viremia could not be detected after 7 dpi in fish that received virus but not steroids. Circulating virus neutralizing antibodies were first detected in steroid treated fish at 10 dpi compared to 7 dpi for the virus injected fish and titers were consistently lower in the steroid group. Steroid treatment of chronic IPNV-carriers did not induce detectable viremia nor alter circulating antibody levels in chronic IPNV-carriers. None of the striped bass demonstrated clinical signs of viral disease.